my grownup christmas list

i was doing some last-minute giftwrapping for some friends last sunday. as i was seated on the sofa making christmas bags for presents, i turned on the tv. the show was a recap of 2006 - mostly stories of the lives of victims of the tragedies of the year.

upon seeing the theme, my first thought was “ano ba naman ‘to.. magsisimula pa lang ang bagong taon, panay trahedya na naman ang pinapakita nila!” it’s not that i don’t sympathize with those in mourning. the fact is, i avoid watching those kinds of features because seeing people in that situation depresses me. and since the holidays usually stress me out, i was in an even gloomier mood. i just didn’t want to make matters worse for myself.

but as the anchorperson interviewed one particular family whose house was literally washed away by the flood, the camera zoomed in on the father’s beaming face. she asked, “tatay, bakit po nakakangiti pa rin kayo, gayong nasira na ang bahay ninyo at inanod na ang mga gamit ninyo?” and the man just replied, “kasi maswerte pa rin kami. siguro kung hindi dahil sa mga dasal namin, mas malala pa ang nangyari. at least magkakasama kami ng pamilya ngayon. ‘yun naman ang importante..”

then the reporter interviewed another family - those who were grieving over the death of their mother, who was killed in the wowowee stampede of february 2006. it was their first christmas without her. unlike the previous family, their house was intact. they have a stable source of income. but their family was not complete.

“kung mayroon kayong wish ngayon pasko na gusto niyong mangyari, ano po iyon?” the reporter asked the bereaved husband. “sana lang po magkasama-sama kaming lahat nang maayos dito sa pamilya.. sana makasama ko siya ulit, kahit sa altar lang, kasi siyempre hindi na talaga mababalik ‘yung dati.. pero ‘yun lang, masaya na ako..” he replied, with a sad smile on his face.

i was given a different perspective on joy and celebration that day. it was humbling to realize that i, who have been blessed with so much, still found it possible to sulk and brood; while these people whose lives were changed so drastically, found joy and peace in spite of the pain in their hearts.

“celebration is a natural result of a grateful heart.” i’ve heard that over and over this holiday season in fr. suarez’ homilies. and a grateful heart is *definitely* one of the items i’m including in my wishlist this year :-)

no more lives torn apart

that wars would never start

and time would heal a heart

and everyone would have a friend

and right would always win

and love would never end

this is my grown up christmas list

“merry christmas and a happy new year” - it’s the common greeting we give during the holiday seasons. but after seeing those families, i realized that more than a merry christmas, we should be wishing each other a blessed one. and instead of just a happy new year, we should pray for a joyful one.

because the tinsel and the lights fade. the christmas carols are silenced. the decorations are taken down. but when all the trimmings are gone, He is still there - through trials, tragedies and sorrow. we may not be happy the whole year through.. but with Him, we can always find peace and joy. and His Light shines, even in the darkest of nights :-)